208 LIVE STOCK MANAGEMENT. 



advisable to use young animals each season; however, an 

 animal of outstanding merit may occasionally be fitted several 

 times. One should always select more than he intends to 

 show, because under the best of management and care cer- 

 tain individuals will not take kindly to feed or, in fact, do 

 any good. Although the best of selections have been made, 

 such only serves as a sort of index to the success of the 

 animals in the show ring. Selecting and feeding go hand in 

 hand, thus failure in either brings disaster to the whole busi- 

 ness or operation. 



Successful feeding of show animals is an art of which 

 very few can boast. It is not a difficult thing to fatten a 

 sheep; however, it is usually difficult to be able to place an 

 exhibit in the arena ripe enough and just in the right bloom. 

 The majority who vie in the arena for honors too often 

 fall into the ranks of those that underfeed or overfeed their 

 animals. The mothers of lambs intended for show should 

 receive attention, especially the first few days after parturi- 

 tion. Too much grain should not be fed to the ewe until the 

 lamb is quite strong. Equal parts by weight of oats and bran 

 and with a small quantity of oil cake will make a good ration 

 for a milking ewe. About one pound of this mixture fed 

 daily in conjunction with good clover hay and abundance of 

 roots will be sufficient. When the lambs get large enough 

 to eat they should have access to grain and hay. The grain 

 ration may consist of oats and bran at first, and as the lambs 

 become older a little oil meal may be added. In pushing 

 lambs it is often advisable to feed them cow's milk from a 

 bottle in order to enhance their growth. When such methods 

 are employed the cow's milk should be given only in small 

 quantities at first and while the lamb is still young so that 

 there will be no danger of deranging the creature's delicate 

 digestive system. 



When lambs are weaned a good plan to follow is that of 

 feeding a small grain ration in the morning, after which rape 

 or some other succulent food may be given. During the day, 

 or, in fact, all the time, they should have access to well 

 cured clover hay. About five or six in the evening grain can 

 be fed again; and they should be allowed to run in a rape 

 pasture in the cool of the evening. In order to cultivate 

 and keep a lamb's appetite keen, it is necessary to clean the 

 trough and rack after each meal. Never allow feed to become 

 stale in the feed boxes or racks. 



